Wednesday 12 September 2012

Summer Leftovers?

Yes, is almost the end of summer, and I have some leftovers for you. Not to worry I am not talking about stale potato salad, slightly composted greens and dried out chicken, but instead some pictures from the summer that I have not yet shared with you.


This gull is giving me the "Aren't you supposed to be back at work with everyone else?" look; the gulls did not seem to miss the people and umbrellas, but they may be missing the handouts and food leftovers.

I had a discussion recently with some friends about the origins of the term Indian Summer.  I have always thought that the term Indian Summer refers summer like conditions lasting through September and into October but since I didn't know for sure what it meant I thought it timely to do a bit of research.




Flowers into seeds:














According to Wikipedia: "The expression 'Indian summer' has been used for more than two centuries. The earliest known use was by French-American writer John Hector St. John de Crevecoeur in rural New York in 1778: "Then a severe frost succeeds which prepares it to receive the voluminous coat of snow which is soon to follow; though it is often preceded by a short interval of smoke and mildness, called the Indian Summer."
Here are some theories about its etymology (from Wikipedia):
  • "In Colonial New England and New York, Indian Summer referred only to a January thaw, when American Indian raiding parties could be expected in the western and northern areas: the ground had briefly lost its snow cover so tracking the Native American raiders back to their winter camps was much more difficult for the Colonials. " 
  • "In The Americans: The Colonial Experience, Daniel J. Boorstin speculates that the term originated from raids on European colonies by American Indian war parties; these raids usually ended in late autumn (due to snow covered ground), hence summer-like weather in the late fall and mid winter was an Indian Summer, a time raiding parties could be expected. "
  • "It may be so named because this was the traditional period during which early American Indians harvested their crops of squash and corn." 
I have usually heard the term Indian Summer used when summer weather lasts well past the fall equinox (third week in September), not necessarily preceded by a period of cold weather. It is probably too soon to say for sure but I have heard predictions of an Indian Summer for this year; fingers crossed that it happens.

A colourful array of summer produce (tomatoes, eggplants and artichokes):





The summer's progression of colourful flowers: Lilies, sweet peas, lobelia, vicars mead, fuchsia, roses, day lilies, rhododendrons, echinacea, laitris and euphorbia.






 


 









 









 








A nest, now vacated, that a neighbour found and gave me:
 

And a few bunnies:




This one had a close look at me, then realizing I was not a threat started rolling around on the ground, occasionally stopping to have a look at me.





I took a short video of him doing a bit of cleanup following a roll in the dirt:


This is one of the many baby bunnies from early in the summer:
 


Here is a whole family, and then their mother watching over them:



One last video taken from a dock on one of the gulf islands this summer:

 
 
I hope you have enjoyed this "leftover" version of summer photographs.
"Leftovers in their less visible form are called memories. Stored in the refrigerator of the mind and the cupboard of the heart." Thomas Fuller
 
 
I have just finished a painting of a large wooden mask that I saw at an indoor garden. It is a watercolour that I have called "Sun Washed":



Thank you for dropping by, hope you enjoyed your visit and Happy Whimsy Wednesday.

Until next week ...............

28 comments:

  1. Very appealing leftovers, Gillian! And interesting information about Indian Summer. I've always thought Indian Summer was a warm spell after a killing frost. :)

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  2. That's an interesting collection of leftovers. The bunnies are adorable. The seasons are changing here too. It's time to harvest our garden. Once the tomatoes need blankets for the night it's time to bring them in. so I'll have a busy day today.

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  3. the mask is very exotic. loved the bunny roll and the baby bunnies! the dock view almost got me a bit seasick. :)

    indian summer has always had such pleasant connotations. i would never have associated it with indian raids.

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  4. If those are leftovers, I will take them any time.

    How cute the bunny is, I have never seen them rolling before.

    As for the origin of Indian Summer, I'll take the harvest, or non violent one please.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  5. So love all your summer pics! Birds, flowers and bunnies ... what more could one want??

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  6. You know I would stop by just to see your wonderful painting. But you always have something for us to learn here on your blog. And the photos are wonderful. But your painting are AMAZING. Thanks for sharing my friend.

    Hugs~

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  7. I thought "Sun Washed" was real. You did a nice job on that. Also enjoyed the rabbit photos and video.

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  8. wow, you find so many things to share. Love the rabbits. :)

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  9. A very delightful post! My favorites are the little bunnies and rolling around bunny. All are wonderful, though. So many pretty summer sights and you captured them beautifully!

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  10. I really enjoyed your leftovers, you were right, they were the good kind. I have been feeling the end of summer as well so your post was a timely one.

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  11. A beautiful series of photos - especially all the flowers. The veges look luscious too! I am always intrigued with photos of rabbits from your part of the world! They are one of the worst plague animals ever introduced into Australia and have ruined 1000's of acres of otherwise good land. They looks so cute in your photos.

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  12. Love your leftovers. Those rabbits are adorable. Love the videos and the painting. The faces on the rabbits are so cute. The one rolling around is priceless. As for the seagulls:)....

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  13. Lovely leftovers, I especially like the rabbits!

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  14. Gillian, such a gorgeous collection of leftovers. I especially loved your wabbits shots and the video of the rabbit and water. Those flowers are a lovely feast for the eyes. I have so many flower shots from summer, I just might show some during the grey days of Autumn and winter. Very nice painting!

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  15. The flowers are all gorgeous! Beautiful shots! I like the gulls and the rabbits!

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  16. funny and cute rabbit in the video !
    beautiful images of summer !
    love the painting

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  17. What an amazing mask!

    What lovely shots - so delicious. And here in Sweden, an Indian summer is called a Brit summer.

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  18. Fantastic set of shots. I love the details of the feathers on the gull in the first shot. Great sequence of the rolling rabbit. All the summer scenes,flowers and birds are beautiful and interesting information about the origins of the term Indian summer. I love your painting of the mask.

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  19. Beautiful, truly beautiful. The birds, flowers and I love the rabbits, superb. And the painting is something else, lovely.

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  20. Beautiful photographs, nature is letting us admire excellent images. I am greeting

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  21. I have learned many etymologies from you!! This is another great one. Indian summer sounds me very exotic.
    The fabulous leftovers of summer are so poetic.
    Thanks for sharing.
    keiko

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  22. I love those leftovers. It's so amazing to look at those photos. Thanks for sharing your blog.
    God bless you.

    beachfront accommodation

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  23. Great set of left overs - and much, much better than slightly composted greens!

    I like the rabbits.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

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  24. Gillian, this is gorgeous!! I love it! Thank you for telling me about it. Would love to see the real thing sometime. Are you showing it anywhere?

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  25. Gillian, I love your "leftovers!" They sure are a feast for the eyes!

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  26. i LOVE leftovers!!

    that white bunny peaking thru the green grass, priceless!!

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  27. Gillian, your leftovers are beautiful. The flowers are gorgeous! And the bunnies are so cute. The one bunny peeping out of the grass is adorable. I enjoyed your leftovers, have a great day!

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